Small changes can make huge differences. Like many of its era,
this Portland house had little use for the dead space in the gable above
the living room's 8-foot-high ceiling. It was filled by only
"darkness, stuffy air, cobwebs, and old wasp nests clinging to the
rafters' before architect David McNiven opened the old ceiling to
the roof line, cut a large half-moon window into the gable, and replaced
lower windows with a big panel of glass.

Now, the house looks more modern from the street, while inside its
living room feels bright and open.

During the remodel, McNiven also took down the wall separating the
living room from the dining room. A bedroom directly above the dining
area received an interior window--also semicircular.

Throughout the house, old plaster was replaced with new gypsum board; a new cast-plaster facade replaced the original mantelpiece. All
wiring and plumbing were brought up to code. To help unify the spaces
and visually enlarge the house, McNiven had all interior walls painted
the same light color and installed low-pile wall-to-wall carpeting.